The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-13
False and Misleading Statements Sent Ont
from His Bureau in the Interests of the
Physical Wrecks" Numerous Booms.
Indications that the Case of Herbert
Beecher Is Worse than Represented
The President Thinks His st. Louis Letter
Has Met Hearty Reception-Ths Gov
ernments Receipts and Expenditures.
GEN. BLACKS oFFIoE.sEEk ING.


How Figures Are Made To Lse--sPhysicsl
Wreck" Black and His Boomlsts.
Washington Special to New York Tribune.
Several days ago clerk IL the Pension Bu-
reau was sent to the Washington Offices of news
papers friendly TO the administration with copies
of q statement which was published showing the
unusual number of claims adjudicated by the
United States Pension Office in the month of
June and in the fiscal year ended on June 30
This statement was pointed to as unanswerabls
evidence Of Commissioner Blacks conspicuous
ability. AS matter Of fact the assertions it
contained were false and misleading. The flies
of the Pension Office have been system aticaily
rAked, fore and aft. for cases which could be
sent forward for pension, to the utter neglect
and prejudice of equally honest claims which,
through no fault Of the claimants. have not yet
ripened. IT there is any unusual number OF
claims passed now. it is due to the increment Of
honest work, faithfully performed by able Re-
rivss at fruition and is 'intellieentiy con-
summsted by such worthy Republican
examiners az have remained in Office despite
their removal. In the month of June. moreover.
the Commissioner almost continuously alb
sent ostensby in the interest of the soldier. but
actually working up his various "booinletsr for
vice-prssidsnt, Secretary Of the Interior, Gov
ernor of Illinois, for anything. in fact, for which
no may hope to catch and cajole the support OF
the exeoldiers Any feversh and unhealthy
stimulation OF effort in the Pension Office to-
ward the issue Of certificates necessarily mplies
a corresponding depression or retardng OF the
current work Of the Office. In other words, il i'm
plies longer waiting Of less fortunate claiman to
for their certificates. II any praise is due 10
official supervision in the showing OF work per-
formed, it 10 due most emphatically to the pro-
longed and frequent absences or the Commits
sioner from his desk and to the continued pres
ence OF the two deputycom mmissoners at theirs.
In marked contrast to the arbitrary, passion
ate. incorsequent and vain incapacity OF Com
missioner Black are the patient industry and
attentiveness to duty. of Col. William Z. Nc
Lean and Gen. j. j. Bartlett When the order
to sign the Office letters as Acting Commission
ar" during tho frequent absences of Black is
passed around. pleasant smiles and long drawn
fighs Of eliefindcate the happiness of the en-
ployes
One Of the Democratic charges against Col.
Dudley his absence from his Office on politi-
cal business. A correct schedule OF the tima
during which Black has been away from the
Pension Bureau. with statements Of the actual
business which he has pursued while elsewhere,
would be of great and abiding Interest and it's
publication is greatly aquestion Of time Return
ing from his frequent jarnts. paid for out of the
public purse, either from pension appropriations
diers homes, this officials first aim appears to
be the infiction Of unjust punishment upon such
ex soldiers as rnhappily yet serve under him.
Indeed. for their more effectuel persecution he
has invented new and ingenious methods of tor
ture while at the same time many members OF
his own immediate family and special frie nds
snugly ensconced at the public crib, from
which they feed with amisble sociability and
bust appetite. Although he received many
warnings Commissioner Black has from fr at to
last pac ed himself absolutely under the tutelage
of the worst elements of that Office which he
publicly pledged himself to reform.
When the brief but pathetic history of some
of the exsoldiers who have fallen victims to his
malignant persecution shall 0e written. it will be
that this professed friend Of the soldier il.
in fact, soldierhater, caring only for such SOL
diers' votes or influence he may be able to
profit by; that this toady of the Grand Army OF
the Republic hates it with the hatred begottcn
of fear, because it debars him in some measurS
from dscharging all the ex-soldiers whom he
found in Office to replace them by his heelers,
strikers and henchmen. 1t will be found, more
over, that the United States Pension Office, with
its vast and far reaching machinery. 10 used for
party purposes; that in certain pensions
have been unjusty granted as rewards for polt-
ical servics; that no public bureau has ever been
more shamefully mismanaged.